This site is changing on October 16, 2023. Preview the new site at Beta.AviationWeather.gov

SCN23-79: Upgrade of Aviation Weather Center Website

Aviation Area Forecast Help

Overview

An area forecast (FA) is a forecast of Visual Flight Rules (VFR) clouds and weather conditions over an area as large as the size of several states. It must be used in conjunction with the AIRMET Sierra (IFR) bulletin for the same area in order to get a complete picture of the weather. The area forecast together with the AIRMET Sierra bulletin are used to determine forecast enroute weather and to interpolate conditions at airports which do not have a terminal forecast (TAF) issued. FAs are issued 3 times a day from Kansas City for the Gulf of Mexico (FAGX) and Caribbean (FACA).

In Alaska, FAs are issued by the Alaska Aviation Weather Unit (AAWU) (Alaska). The WSFO in Honolulu issues FAs for Hawaii (Hawaii).

The FA consists of a:

  • 12 hour forecast plus a 6 hour outlook. All times are Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). All distances except visibility are in nautical miles. Visibility is in statute miles.
  • Synopsis section which is a brief summary of the location and movement of fronts, pressure system, and circulation patterns for an 18 hour period.
  • VFR clouds and weather section which is a 12 hour forecast, in broad terms, of clouds and weather significant to flight operations plus a 6 hour categorical outlook. This section is usually several paragraphs. AIRMET Sierra supplies information regarding Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) conditions. The breakdown may be by states, by well known geographical areas, or in reference to location and movement of a pressure system or front. A categorical outlook, identified by OTLK, is included for each area breakdown.

Amendments to the FA are issued as needed. An amended FA is identified by AMD, a corrected FA by COR, and a delayed FA is identified by RTD.

URL Options

Here is a list of the URL options:

  • region=region - This selects the specific region to display. The regions are:
    • aknorth - Alaska North
    • akcentral - Alaska Central
    • akaleutian - Alaska Aleutian
    • aksouthwest - Alaska Southwest
    • aksouth - Alaska South
    • aksoutheast - Alaska Southeast
    • akpanhandle - Alaska Panhandle
    • carib - Caribbean
    • gulf - Gulf of Mexico
    • hawaii - Hawaii

Page loaded:  20:33 UTC  |   12:33 PM Pacific  |   01:33 PM Mountain  |   02:33 PM Central  |   03:33 PM Eastern

 

ADVISORIES

FORECASTS

FORECASTS

OBSERVATIONS

USER TOOLS

ABOUT US